Cuba to renew medical aid commitment to Caribbean neighbors

Cuba will sign an agreement renewing medical assistance to its island neighbors at a meeting Tuesday with foreign ministers from the 15-nation Caribbean Community, a government official said.

The one-day gathering in St. Vincent will touch on topics including energy security, but officials say cooperation in the health sector will dominate talks.

The Cuban charge d'affaires in Guyana, Pedro Arteaga, said Monday that the agreement will formalize a commitment to deploy medical personnel and continue a Cuban eye care program that has provided free treatment to more than 10,000 Caribbean nationals over the last two years.

More than 1,000 Cuban doctors and nurses work in the Caribbean, and at least 1,300 Caribbean students are studying for free at Cuban schools.